THE USE OF SPACE – ITS HARMONY AND DISTURBANCES. CASE STUDIES OF THREE CHOSEN PLACES.

Purpose: The aim of the research/article is to show how the changes in urban space in three different cases affect the residents’ life and what does it mean to them. Design/methodology/approach: The main issue of the research has been discussed with the use of humanistic coefficient which means that the attitudes of the inhabitants towards the changes of their surroundings have been studied. It means that the in-depth interview has been applied as a research technique. As the attitudes towards space and place was the subject of the study some concepts of environmental psychology and urban sociology constitutes its theoretical background. Findings: As a result of the study three types of changes in an urban space have been shown in the light of the feelings of the residents. One of the two extremes of that little spectrum is the case when the changes are imposed and mostly harmful, the other when changes are fully wanted and accepted by passionate users. In between these two is the case when the change has both advantages and disadvantages which the inhabitants are aware of. Practical implications: The research proved that changes in living space of the people when imposed on them are rather harmful. That is why the practice of consultations should be rethought and supplemented by the research among affected and provision of adequate information giving reasonable guidelines regarding alternative options especially in case of displacements. Originality/value: As the paper show how the changes in the surroundings of the people affect their quality of life it can be addressed to urban sociologists and scientists specialized in local management and social policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]